APES-Soil - Soil Spodosols are acid soils characterized by...

Soil Spodosols are acid soils characterized by a subsurface accumulation of humus that is complexed with Al and Fe. 1 These photogenic soils typically form in coarse-textured parent material and have a light-colored E horizon overlying a reddish-brown spodic horizon. The process that forms these horizons is known as podzolization. 2 Spodosols often occur under coniferous forest in cool, moist climates. Globally, they occupy ~3.5% of the ice-free land area. 3 In the US, they occupy ~3.5% of the land area. 4 Many Spodosols support forest. 5 Because they are naturally infertile, Spodosols require additions of lime in order to be productive agriculturally. 6 A great diversity of organisms make up the soil food web. 7 The size range from the smallest, one-celled bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa, to the more complex nematodes and micro-arthropods, to the visible earthworms, insects, small vertebrates, and plants. 8

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